Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $991 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,454 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,685 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $2,251 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Kangar, Perlis is about 12% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Kangar, Perlis 28% lower, Kuala Lumpur 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 MYR 14.93

$5.07 MYR 20.62

-27.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 MYR 81.2

$29.14 MYR 119

-31.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.70

$4.81 MYR 19.56

0.62%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 12.25

$3.17 MYR 12.89

-5.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MYR 3.38

$0.82 MYR 3.32

1.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.73

$0.46 MYR 1.89

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$4.43 MYR 18.02

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MYR 18.94

$6.00 MYR 24.40

-22.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$2.12 MYR 8.61

-12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.35

$1.11 MYR 4.52

-3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$2.10 MYR 8.55

-31.43%

Eggs

$1.92 MYR 7.83

$2.49 MYR 10.12

-22.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.61 MYR 55.4

$15.53 MYR 63.2

-12.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.77

$4.93 MYR 20.07

-11.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 MYR 40.79

$9.63 MYR 39.17

4.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 13.08

$3.38 MYR 13.76

-5.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.84

$1.87 MYR 7.61

-10.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.87

$2.39 MYR 9.71

1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.74

$1.63 MYR 6.63

1.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.37

$1.36 MYR 5.55

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.45 MYR 5.91

-19.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$1.15 MYR 4.68

5.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.34

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.95

$4.41 MYR 17.96

Wine (Bottle)

$19.10 MYR 77.7

$18.84 MYR 76.7

1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 12.06

$3.54 MYR 14.42

-16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.21

$5.03 MYR 20.45

-25.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.15

$0.77 MYR 3.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.21 MYR 49.67

$12.27 MYR 49.93

-0.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$1.21 MYR 4.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$1.23 MYR 4.99

-60.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 MYR 30.49

$4.93 MYR 20.04

51.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.76 MYR 3.11

-2.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.0K MYR 171.0K

$42.8K MYR 174.0K

-1.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.5K MYR 140.3K

$35.4K MYR 144.0K

-2.56%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$50.9 MYR 207

$63.5 MYR 258

-19.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.25 MYR 41.71

$9.41 MYR 38.29

8.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.38 MYR 120

$26.74 MYR 109

9.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 MYR 163

$50.4 MYR 205

-20.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MYR 26.40

$7.64 MYR 31.07

-15.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 MYR 20.09

$5.54 MYR 22.55

-10.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$179 MYR 729

$302 MYR 1,230

-40.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,056 MYR 20.6K

$12.7K MYR 51.6K

-60.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 MYR 258

$73.6 MYR 299

-13.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 146

$42.08 MYR 171

-14.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 MYR 333

$88.7 MYR 361

-7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 MYR 285

$97.0 MYR 395

-27.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 MYR 1,753

$607 MYR 2,470

-29.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 MYR 1,333

$367 MYR 1,492

-10.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 MYR 2,873

$1,213 MYR 4,933

-41.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 2,010

$642 MYR 2,612

-23.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,087 MYR 8,489

$4,079 MYR 16.6K

-48.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,135 MYR 4,616

$1,535 MYR 6,246

-26.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,493 MYR 6,075

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Kangar, Perlis versus $607 in Kuala Lumpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis versus $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $283 – making Kangar, Perlis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kangar, Perlis vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $991 in Kangar, Perlis, $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur – roughly 13% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,486 per month in Kangar, Perlis and $1,680 in Kuala Lumpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis and $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $991 in Kangar, Perlis and $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $991, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,120. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuala Lumpur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $991 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.